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Residents and extension official urge county not to cut AgriLife Extension, 4‑H support
Summary
Public speakers, including Sheila Harris of the county extension service, told Trinity County commissioners that eliminating the local AgriLife Extension office or county extension agent would harm youth programs and adult services and urged the court to preserve staffing and a physical office.
Public commenters urged Trinity County’s commissioners to preserve the local AgriLife Extension office and its 4‑H support, saying the programs provide essential education, leadership training and routine services for families.
Sheila Harris, who identified herself as "the district assistant administrator with Texadia, Hacklife Extension Service," told the court it "would be detrimental to this county to close the AgriLife Extension office" and said two local agents provide critical youth and adult programming at no cost to the county in some cases. Multiple residents described 4‑H as a place for kids to learn responsibility and leadership skills and said the program reaches roughly 200 local youth annually.
Supporters pressed elected officials not to conflate personnel decisions with program elimination. One long‑time agriculture resident described agriculture and 4‑H as core county revenue and community investment, saying the county should "look very closely at what we do in extension" and invest in youth leadership rather than cut programs. The court acknowledged the concerns and said personnel and budget options would be discussed as part of the broader budget process.
